Oxygen Art Centre

Youth Art Retreat, Lost Cat!, Education, O2, and more Donate! Support your artist-run centreYOUTH ART RETREATWho: Youth (15 – 18 yrs.) When: July 2, 2024 + July 3 – 5, 2024  Where: The Narrows Art Retreat (Nelson, B.C.) With: Dr. Michelle Jack + Tracie Stewartvia Oxygen Art Centre What: Art, land-based practices FEE: $125 (Registrations via Google form) Deadline to apply: MAY 17, 2024 at 5PM PSTExplore connections with self, water, and land during a three-day, two-night retreat at The Narrows Art Retreat (Nelson, B.C.) from July 3 – 5, 2024. Dr. Michelle Jack, an Artist /Educator and sqilxʷ/syilx (Okanagan) person, with Tracie Stewart, an artist, naturalist, arborist, and creative from Terrace, with Scottish/ Doukhobor background, invite you to join them at The Narrows Youth Art Retreat as they share techniques in building with natural materials.  Together we will reference the land while making prayer flags to respect all the timxʷ (all living things), the təmúlaʔxʷ (earth/mother), siwɬkʷ (water), and kʷl’ncútən (creator). We will then reference ourselves and our journey in life as we work in a team to build one functional boat and individual vessels. When creating work, sustainability has to be considered in every sense. We will encourage youth to explore these concepts from their own personal backgrounds. Participants can expect to engage in a daily sketching practice to document our experiences as we learn about ourselves, the water, and the lands around us in this immersive experience. Participants will travel by boat to The Narrows Art Retreat to share this retreat experience with four other youth between the ages of 15-18 years old. Oxygen’s Education Coordinator Natasha Smith will be on site to support throughout. Together we will share accommodation, meals, and learning for three-days, two-nights in July 2024. Before the retreat itself, everyone will meet at Oxygen Art Centre for an orientation on July 2, 2024, from 1:00 – 2:00 PM.  All food, accommodation, art materials, and transportation to and from the retreat centre are included. This program is generously supported by Cowan’s Office Supplies Ltd., Valhalla Pure Outfitters, the Narrows Art Retreat, and the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance.ABOUT THE ARTISTSDr. Michelle Jack is a syilx/Okanagan creative from the communities of snpintktn (Penticton, BC) and nisɬpícaʔ (Omak, WA). She has her PhD from Washington State University in Transnational  (American Studies) with focus on Indigenous and Intercultural communication. She is a mother, working Abstract Image Maker/Scholar, who has a BFA from the University of New Mexico and an MFA from the University of Washington both in Studio Arts and Photography. Before her PhD studies she taught grades 6-8 on the Coeur D’Alene Reservation in Idaho. She has taught for 12 years at the En’owkin Centre which has a very diverse age range of learners from youth to elders. She uses her traditional sqilxʷ /syilx experiences to enhance her art practice and teaching methods as current head of Visual and Creative arts at En’owkin Centre, in snpintktn (Penticton) on the Penticton Indian Band reserve.Tracie Stewart (mother of 2 residing in Stolo Territory) is an international collaborative installation artist -ECCAD ’95- Arborist/ Naturalist -ISA ’09. Interested in exchanging many ways of knowing with youth, she facilitates projects using Teen Talking Circle skills/ values with Artstarts, and ARTCI inc. From Terrace, BC, Tracie experienced being a settler youth raised in a logging town with high substance abuse and suicide rates. Art saves lives.  Her roots of Doukhobor (Plotnikoff-meaning people that work with hands), and Scottish (Stewart) water people, farmers, and loggers influence a daily practice. Immersion in the elements, and the intersection of land + language, influences her practice of spatial linear drawing /sculpture using natural materials. “Geopoetic Symposium’ 22“,  Walking the Stalew ’21”, “Salt water Skin Boats ‘18” Grimm collaborations,” PLOT medicine wheel + sharing garden” -Newton,  “ACSS Mural“ ‘19  artstarts, Neel, ARTCI , “Tidewater Tales”, Brittania-Shipyard- Artistic innovation award, Coq125 -Artists rendering Tales Collective inc.ABOUT THE NARROWSFounded in 2015, The Narrows Art Retreat centre is nestled among cottonwood, cedar trees and ponderosa pines. Travel to the remote studio is by boat. Renew your creativity and immerse yourself in your practice away from distractions of daily life. The centre has a straw bale residence, separate studio and also includes a yurt on the property as studio or living space. It is built by artists who wanted to provide an inspirational space and setting to support the creative community. The Centre holds workshops, gatherings and residencies. The beauty of the Selkirk mountains, Kootenay Lake and the diverse wildlife, provide endless inspiration to infuse daily creativity.  It is isolated – travel to and from by boat.  The lake provides a buffer from the town, so you are removed, yet still close to take part in art and cultural events happening in Nelson.LEARN MOREREGISTERCOMMUNITYLOST CAT!Free community art-making event Basic Printmaking: Flowers and Foliagewith Myra RasmussenSaturday, May 25, 2024, from 1:00 – 3:00 PMFree to attend. No registration required. Join Myra to experiment with some basic printmaking techniques including carving rubber stamps, tetra-pack intaglio printing, and jelly-plate monotypes. All materials provided. No experience necessary.This program is generously supported by the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance.LEARN MOREYOUTH EDUCATIONPop! Up! PD DayIN PERSON @ OXYGEN ART CENTREWhen: 1 class: May 27 // Monday, 9 am – 2 pm (5 hours) Who: Youth, 10 – 15 yrsWith: 2 artist instructors: Natasha Smith – Multi-disciplinary Artist + Rayya Liebich – WriterWhat: Unconventional Portraits: Past, Present, Future!Following a series of fun prompts and exercises that will involve blind contour drawing, mirrors and metaphors, create three unique declarations of your identity! Who you were, who you are now, and who you imagine you will be!Using vinyl records as a canvas, create three poetically abstract self portraits of yourself using alternative materials like feathers and beads, collage and decoupage techniques, and letters and words. Symbolic of your individuality and personal freedom, these portraits can be as wild as you wish, especially since they will represent you as you have never seen yourself before. Bring a bagged lunch. All materials provided.Fee: $80REGISTERARTful Fridays!IN PERSON @ OXYGEN ART CENTREWhen: 4 classes: May 24 – June 14 // Fridays, 9 am – 2 pm (5 hours)Who: Youth, 12 – 18 yrsWith: 2 artist instructors: Marcus Dénommé – Printmaker + Ruby Creighton – Multi-disciplinary ArtistWhat: Long live the Zine-Machine!  Drawing from the wealth of knowledge provided by bookmaking/print media artists Ruby Creighton and Marcus Dénommé, students will learn about this rich history and art of DIY zine making. Using low-tech household tools and materials such as the flatbed scanner and photocopier, the class will cover the creative and accessible ways to book bind, collage, relief print, and ultimately participate in an artwork exchange amongst the group.Fee: $245 + $20 material feeTOTAL $265REGISTERROCK / PAPER / SCISSORSIN PERSON @ OXYGEN ART CENTREWhen: 5 classes: May 27 – June 24, 2024 // Mondays, 4:15 pm – 5.45 pmWho: Youth, 11 – 14 yrsWith: 2 artist instructors: Brian Lye – Filmmaker + Rayya Liebich – Poet & WriterWhat: Join filmmaker Brian Lye and poet Rayya Liebich on a multidisciplinary adventure to create a stop-motion animation film using an altered book as a springboard for story.  Rayya will demonstrate how to write blackout poems, create book folds, and use decoupage techniques inside a hardcover book.  Brian will then show you how to bring objects, words, and drawings to life using stop-motion animation. The culminating project will be a short movie of your chosen figurine/narrator literally jumping out of your book to tell a story through voice, image, and fun filming techniques.  Come ready to learn, explore, and be amazed!Fee:  $120 (All materials included)REGISTERWORM / HOLEIN PERSON @ OXYGEN ART CENTREWhen: 4 classes: May 24 – June 14, 2024 // Fridays, 4:15 pm – 6:15 pm (2 hours)Who: Youth, 15 – 18 yrsWith: 3 artist instructors: Catherine McIntosh – Visual Artist + Myra Rasmussen – Multi-disciplinary Artist + Marcus Dénommé – PrintmakerWhat: Join artists Myra Rasmussen, Marcus Dénommé, and Catherine McIntosh to learn all things printmaking. Students will have the chance to experience a variety of printmaking techniques including lino printing, screenprinting, and intaglio printing methods (drypoint & tetra-pack printing). Whether you have never done any printmaking or are interested in developing your skills further, this class will be a lot of fun and a great opportunity to further your artistic journey.Fee:  $120 (All materials included)REGISTERCreative Time – For New Parents IN PERSON @ OXYGEN ART CENTRE When: 5 classes: May 24 – June 14 / Tuesdays, 10 am – 12 noon (2 hours) Who: New Parents + Parents-to-be These classes are designed for the 6 month period before and after having your little one. With: Artist, educator & mom Natasha Smith What: Join other new parents and pregnant folk for creative time at Oxygen Art Centre. These inclusive, supportive, and fun sessions provide time to draw, collage, and write specific for pre- and post-partum bodies and children. Involving yourself in such mindful practices can be valuable for new parents (to be). No experience is necessary; just a desire to make time for creativity. Each week we will explore different techniques through thoughtful prompts for you and your baby to share creative practice. Fee: $100 (All materials included)REGISTERADULT EDUCATIONPart 2 of Oxygen’s Spring 2024 semester is now open for registration! Offered from May to June, reserve your spot to learn a new technique or advance an existing one, take part in life drawing sessions and critical discourse, and get creative with our incredible professional artist instructors and fellow students across screen printing, digital photography, performance, drawing, and everything in between! Course offerings available both in-person and online. To register, visit Oxygen’s website to access extended details and Google Form links for each course. Payment can be made via e-transfer, credit card, PayPal, and cheque. Contact Natasha Smith (Education Coordinator) via education@oxygenartcentre.org with any questions about the courses or how to apply.Interested in supporting Oxygen’s Education program? Consider making a donation to the Education subsidies fund today! This fund helps maintain low class fees and professional instructor wages.Plus, donations over $50 receive a charitable tax receipt!DONATEFigure Drawing #2  (no instruction) IN PERSON 4 Classes: May 27, June 3, 10, 17 Mondays: 6:30 – 8:30pm TOTAL FEE: $48 Registration Deadline: May 17REGISTERArt Speak – Peer to Peer Work Sharing #2 Facilitated by Emilie Leblanc Kromberg IN PERSON 5 Classes: May 23, 30, June 6, 13, 20 Thursdays: 5 – 6:45pm TOTAL FEE: $60 Registration Deadline: May 16REGISTERDigital Photography – Getting Weirdwith Louis Bockner IN PERSON 2 Classes: June 1 & 2 Saturday & Sunday: 10am – 2pm TOTAL FEE: $140 Registration Deadline: May 24REGISTERPainting from a Model #2(No Instruction) IN PERSON 1 Class: June 16 Sunday: 1 – 5 pm TOTAL FEE: $40 Registration Deadline: June 7REGISTERBeginner Painting: An Introduction to Colour (Part 2) with Deborah Thompson IN PERSON 5 Classes: May 21, 28, June 4, 11, 18 Tuesdays: 5:30 – 8:30pm TOTAL FEE: $280 Registration Deadline: May 14REGISTERDream Journaling with Rose Nielsen IN PERSON 5 Classes: May 22, 29, June 5, 12, 19 Wednesdays: 6 – 8pm  TOTAL FEE: $160 Registration Deadline: May 13REGISTERBeginner Drawingwith Catherine McIntosh IN PERSON 1 Class: May 26 Sunday: 10am – 3pm TOTAL FEE: $105 Registration Deadline: May 17REGISTERDIY 16mm Film Processing + Intro to Bolex Camera with Brian Lye IN PERSON 1 Class: June 9 Sunday: 10am – 4pm TOTAL FEE: $130 Registration Deadline: May 31REGISTERThe Labwith Deborah Thompson IN PERSON 2 Classes: June 22 & 23 Saturday & Sunday: 10am – 3:30pm TOTAL FEE: $200 Registration Deadline: June 14REGISTERLEARN MOREO2 EXHIBITIONOxygen Art Centre’s fourth exhibition in the window project entitled O2, features new artwork by Tracy Fillion is now on view from 5 April to 5 June 2024.  Located on the Stanley Avenue side of the Nelson Trading Company building (430 Baker Street) in downtown Nelson, B.C., O2 is a window-turned-gallery.  The new artwork by Fillion includes embroidered excerpts from a poem by Mary Oliver, “Invitation” (2009). For the artist, the words remind her to be present, look at the sky, appreciate the plants, listen for birds and bugs, and to seek laughter.This program is generously supported by the Canada Council for the Arts.LEARN MORE

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